-Regional Four-Day matches absent from Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica in 2023
By Brandon Corlette
Cricket West Indies Championships, the Regional Four-Day Championships, will be played in Grenada, Antigua, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from February 1, 2023 with the opening two rounds scheduled for Antigua and Grenada, and the remaining three rounds to be played in Trinidad and Tobago.
The remaining three rounds will be played from March 15 in the twin-island Republic of T&T, but the tournament that was once 10 rounds will again be played in five rounds. However, there is a new domestic red-ball tri-series which would be played after the Regional Four-Day, and according to reliable sources, an away Bangladesh ‘A’ team series is on the line, while the West Indies Academy would also be playing foreign opponents.
While many may argue that the Regional Four-Day is played in only five rounds, this is the best option, since the West Indies will not be playing a host of Test matches after the Four-Day tournament concludes. The West Indies will play India in two Test matches in the Caribbean, later in July/August 2023.
Appearing on the Mason and Guests Radio Programme on Tuesday last, Cricket West Indies Operations Manager Roland Holder noted that traveling logistics are the main reason why the Regional Four-Day is condensed and being played in the Antigua, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago, as opposed to the fortress at Kensington Oval, the home of defending champions Barbados Pride, and countries such as Guyana and Jamaica.
“Moving teams around the Region, unless you are doing so on a chartered flight, is very challenging. It does still present a challenge for us, so we have tried to incorporate the days where we can get the better flights, ideally the Caribbean Airlines (larger aircraft), which allows the players to travel with their bags and to get to venues. That makes it a lot easier,” Holder said.
“We have heard a lot of stories with the challenges faced without the services of LIAT, when the LIAT 1974 Ltd was around, that had three-four flights into Barbados, and you can get home in the same day. Unfortunately, with the current flight situation, that has become a challenge for us in moving teams around,” Holder said.
On Christmas Eve, Cricket West Indies had announced a new domestic red-ball tri-series, the Headley-Weekes series, which will be played at the end of the West Indies Championship, the Regional Four-Day Tournament.
The series will feature three four-day matches, and will be played from April 18 to May 6 at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. Team Headley and Team Weekes (named in honour of George Headley and Everton Weekes) will be selected from the best performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players from outside the starting West Indies Test XI.
The new West Indies Academy will provide the third team.
In the CWI release, Johnny Grave, the CEO of CWI, said: “We are delighted to unveil the Headley-Weekes Series, which is a new idea that will extend the four-day season, create more opportunities for our players to showcase their skills, and will be a huge incentive for them to strive towards selection into our ‘A’ team, and ultimately our Test team. It will also provide some strong, competitive red-ball cricket for our new West Indies Academy players as we continue to try to ensure that the next generation of players is being prepared along the pathway to international cricket.“Whilst the West Indies Championship is once again going to be played on a one-round, five-match basis, with the plans we have for our ‘A’ team and Academy to go on overseas tours after the Headley-Weekes Series, we expect our best players in the region will still play at least ten four-day games in the first half of next year,” Grave explained.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES
West Indies Championship 2023
(for Headley Weekes Trophy)
1 to 4 February: 1st round in Grenada and Antigua
8 to 11 February: 2nd round in Grenada and Antigua
15 to 18 March: 3rd round in Trinidad
22 to 25 March: 4th round in Trinidad
29 March to 1 April: 5th round in Trinidad
Full fixtures to be announced soon.
Headley-Weekes Tri-Series
(to be played at CCG)
19 to 22 April: Team Headley vs West Indies Academy
26 to 29 April: Team Weekes vs West Indies Academy
3 to 6 May: Team Weekes vs Team Headley.